Relax Re·lax" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Relaxed (-l?kst"); present participle & verbal noun Relaxing .] [ Latin relaxare ; prefix re- re- + laxare to loose, to slacken, from laxus loose. See Lax , and confer Relay , noun , Release .] 1. To make lax or loose; to make less close, firm, rigid, tense, or the like; to slacken; to loosen; to open; as, to relax a rope or cord; to relax the muscles or sinews.

Horror . . . all his joints relaxed .

Milton.

Nor served it to relax their serried files.

Milton.

2. To make less severe or rigorous; to abate the stringency of; to remit in respect to strenuousness, earnestness, or effort; as, to relax discipline; to relax one's attention or endeavors.

The statute of mortmain was at several times relaxed by the legislature.

Swift.

3. Hence, to relieve from attention or effort; to ease; to recreate; to divert; as, amusement relaxes the mind.

4. To relieve from constipation; to loosen; to open; as, an aperient relaxes the bowels.

Syn. -- To slacken; loosen; loose; remit; abate; mitigate; ease; unbend; divert.

Relax Re·lax" intransitive verb 1. To become lax, weak, or loose; as, to let one's grasp relax .

His knees relax with toil.

Pope.

2. To abate in severity; to become less rigorous.

In others she relaxed again,
And governed with a looser rein.

Prior.

3. To remit attention or effort; to become less diligent; to unbend; as, to relax in study.

Relax Re·lax" noun Relaxation. [ Obsolete] Feltham.

Relaxable Re·lax"a·ble adjective Capable of being relaxed.

Relaxant Re·lax"ant noun [ Latin relaxans , present participle of relaxare .] (Medicine) A medicine that relaxes; a laxative.

Relaxation Re`lax·a"tion noun [ Latin relaxatio ; confer French relaxation .] 1. The act or process of relaxing, or the state of being relaxed; as, relaxation of the muscles; relaxation of a law.

2. Remission from attention and effort; indulgence in recreation, diversion, or amusement. "Hours of careless relaxation ." Macaulay.

Relaxative Re·lax"a·tive adjective Having the quality of relaxing; laxative. -- noun A relaxant. B. Jonson.

Relay Re·lay" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Relaid (-l?d); present participle & verbal noun Relaying .] [ Prefix re- + lay , v.] To lay again; to lay a second time; as, to relay a pavement.

Relay Re·lay" noun [ French relais (cf. Old French relais relaxation, discontinuance, Italian rilascio release, relief, rilasso relay), from Old French relaissier to abandon, release, from Latin relaxare . See Relax .] 1. A supply of anything arranged beforehand for affording relief from time to time, or at successive stages; provision for successive relief. Specifically: (a) A supply of horses placced at stations to be in readiness to relieve others, so that a trveler may proceed without delay. (b) A supply of hunting dogs or horses kept in readiness at certain places to relive the tired dogs or horses, and to continue the pursuit of the game if it comes that way. (c) A number of men who relieve others in carrying on some work.

2. (Electricity) In various forms of telegraphic apparatus, a magnet which receives the circuit current, and is caused by it to bring into into action the power of a local battery for performing the work of making the record; also, a similar device by which the current in one circuit is made to open or close another circuit in which a current is passing.

Relay battery (Electricity) , the local battery which is brought into use by the action of the relay magnet, or relay.

Relay Re·lay" adjective (Machinery) Relating to, or having the characteristics of, an auxiliary apparatus put into action by a feeble force but itself capable of exerting greater force, used to control a comparatively powerful machine or appliance.
[ Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Relay cylinder Relay cylinder In a variable expansion central-valve engine, a small auxiliary engine for automatically adjusting the steam distribution to the load on the main engine.
[ Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Relay governor Relay governor A speed regulator, as a water-wheel governor, embodying the relay principle.
[ Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Relbun Rel"bun noun The roots of the Chilian plant Calceolaria arachnoidea , -- used for dyeing crimson.

Releasable Re·leas"a·ble adjective That may be released.

Release Re·lease" transitive verb [ Prefix re + lease to let.] To lease again; to grant a new lease of; to let back.

Release Re·lease" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Released (r?*l?st"); present participle & verbal noun Releasing .] [ Middle English relessen , Old French relassier , to release, to let free. See Relay , noun , Relax , and confer Release to lease again.] 1. To let loose again; to set free from restraint, confinement, or servitude; to give liberty to, or to set at liberty; to let go.

Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.

Mark xv. 6.

2. To relieve from something that confines, burdens, or oppresses, as from pain, trouble, obligation, penalty.

3. (Law) To let go, as a legal claim; to discharge or relinquish a right to, as lands or tenements, by conveying to another who has some right or estate in possession, as when the person in remainder releases his right to the tenant in possession; to quit.

4. To loosen; to relax; to remove the obligation of; as, to release an ordinance. [ Obsolete] Hooker.

A sacred vow that none should aye release .

Spenser.

Syn. -- To free; liberate; loose; discharge; disengage; extricate; let go; quit; acquit.

Release Re·lease" noun 1. The act of letting loose or freeing, or the state of being let loose or freed; liberation or discharge from restraint of any kind, as from confinement or bondage. "Who boast'st release from hell." Milton.

2. Relief from care, pain, or any burden.

3. Discharge from obligation or responsibility, as from debt, penalty, or claim of any kind; acquittance.

4. (Law) A giving up or relinquishment of some right or claim; a conveyance of a man's right in lands or tenements to another who has some estate in possession; a quitclaim. Blackstone.

5. (Steam Engine) The act of opening the exhaust port to allow the steam to escape.

Lease and release . (Law) See under Lease . -- Out of release , without cessation. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Syn. -- Liberation; freedom; discharge. See Death .

Release Re·lease" noun 1. (Machinery) A device adapted to hold or release a device or mechanism as required; specif.: (Electricity) A catch on a motor-starting rheostat, which automatically releases the rheostat arm and so stops the motor in case of a break in the field circuit; also, the catch on an electromagnetic circuit breaker for a motor, which acts in case of an overload.

2. (Phon.) The act or manner of ending a sound.

3. (Railroads) In the block-signaling system, a printed card conveying information and instructions to be used at intermediate sidings without telegraphic stations.

Releasee Re·leas`ee" noun One to whom a release is given.

Releasement Re·lease"ment noun The act of releasing, as from confinement or obligation. Milton.

Releaser Re·leas"er noun One who releases, or sets free.

Releasor Re·leas"or noun One by whom a release is given.

Relegate Rel"e·gate transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Relegated (-g?`t?d); present participle & verbal noun Relegating .] [ Latin relegatus , past participle of relegare ; prefix re- re- + legare to send with a commission or charge. See Legate .] To remove, usually to an inferior position; to consign; to transfer; specifically, to send into exile; to banish.

It [ the Latin language] was relegated into the study of the scholar.

Milman.

Relegation Rel`e·ga"tion noun [ Latin relegatio : confer French relégation .] The act of relegating, or the state of being relegated; removal; banishment; exile.

Relent Re·lent" intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Relented ; present participle & verbal noun Relenting .] [ French ralentir , from Latin prefix re- re- + ad to + lentus pliant, flexible, slow. See Lithe .] 1. To become less rigid or hard; to yield; to dissolve; to melt; to deliquesce. [ Obsolete]

He stirred the coals till relente gan
The wax again the fire.

Chaucer.

[ Salt of tartar] placed in a cellar will . . . begin to relent .

Boyle.

When opening buds salute the welcome day,
And earth, relenting , feels the genial ray.

Pope.

2. To become less severe or intense; to become less hard, harsh, cruel, or the like; to soften in temper; to become more mild and tender; to feel compassion.

Can you . . . behold
My sighs and tears, and will not once relent ?

Shak.

Relent Re·lent" transitive verb 1. To slacken; to abate. [ Obsolete]

And oftentimes he would relent his pace.

Spenser.

2. To soften; to dissolve. [ Obsolete]

3. To mollify ; to cause to be less harsh or severe. [ Obsolete]

Relent Re·lent" noun Stay; stop; delay. [ Obsolete]

Nor rested till she came without relent
Unto the land of Amazons.

Spenser.

Relentless Re·lent"less adjective Unmoved by appeals for sympathy or forgiveness; insensible to the distresses of others; destitute of tenderness; unrelenting; unyielding; unpitying; as, a prey to relentless despotism.

For this the avenging power employs his darts, . . .
Thus will persist, relentless in his ire.

Dryden.

-- Re*lent"less*ly , adverb -- Re*lent"less*ness , noun

Relentment Re·lent"ment (-m e nt) noun The act or process of relenting; the state of having relented. Sir T. Browne.

Relesse Re·lesse" transitive verb To release. [ Obsolete] Chaucer.

Relessee Re`les·see" noun See Releasee .

Relessor Re`les·sor" noun See Releasor .

Relevance Rel"e·vance (r?l"?*v a ns), Rel"e*van*cy (-v a n*s?) noun 1. The quality or state of being relevant; pertinency; applicability.

Its answer little meaning, little relevancy bore.

Poe.

2. (Scots Law) Sufficiency to infer the conclusion.

Relevant Rel"e·vant (-v a nt) adjective [ French relevant , present participle of relever to raise again, to relieve. See Relieve .] 1. Relieving; lending aid or support. [ R.] Pownall.

2. Bearing upon, or properly applying to, the case in hand; pertinent; applicable.

Close and relevant arguments have very little hold on the passions.

Sydney Smith.

3. (Scots Law) Sufficient to support the cause.

Relevantly Rel"e·vant·ly adverb In a relevant manner.

Relevation Rel`e·va"tion noun [ Latin relevatio , from relevare . See Relieve .] A raising or lifting up. [ Obsolete]

Reliability Re·li`a·bil"i·ty noun The state or quality of being reliable; reliableness.

Reliable Re·li"a·ble adjective Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependance or reliance; trustworthy. "A reliable witness to the truth of the miracles." A. Norton.

The best means, and most reliable pledge, of a higher object.

Coleridge.

According to General Livingston's humorous account, his own village of Elizabethtown was not much more reliable , being peopled in those agitated times by "unknown, unrecommended strangers, guilty-looking Tories, and very knavish Whigs."

W. Irving.

» Some authors take exception to this word, maintaining that it is unnecessary, and irregular in formation. It is, however, sanctioned by the practice of many careful writers as a most convenient substitute for the phrase to be relied upon , and a useful synonym for trustworthy , which is by preference applied to persons, as reliable is to things, such as an account, statement, or the like. The objection that adjectives derived from neuter verbs do not admit of a passive sense is met by the citation of laughable , worthy of being laughed at , from the neuter verb to laugh ; available , fit or able to be availed of , from the neuter verb to avail ; dispensable , capable of being dispensed with , from the neuter verb to dispense . Other examples might be added.

-- Re*li"a*ble*ness , noun -- Re*li"a*bly , adverb

Reliance Re·li"ance (- a ns) noun [ From Rely .] 1. The act of relying, or the condition or quality of being reliant; dependence; confidence; trust; repose of mind upon what is deemed sufficient support or authority.

In reliance on promises which proved to be of very little value.

Macaulay.

2. Anything on which to rely; dependence; ground of trust; as, the boat was a poor reliance . Richardson.

Reliant Re·li"ant (- a nt) adjective Having, or characterized by, reliance; confident; trusting.

Relic Rel"ic noun [ French relique , from Latin reliquiae , plural, akin to relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish .] [ Formerly written also relique .] 1. That which remains; that which is left after loss or decay; a remaining portion; a remnant. Chaucer. Wyclif.

The relics of lost innocence.

Kebe.

The fragments, scraps, the bits and greasy relics .

Shak.

2. The body from which the soul has departed; a corpse; especially, the body, or some part of the body, of a deceased saint or martyr; -- usually in the plural when referring to the whole body.

There are very few treasuries of relics in Italy that have not a tooth or a bone of this saint.

Addison.

Thy relics , Rowe, to this fair urn we trust,
And sacred place by Dryden's awful dust.

Pope.

3. Hence, a memorial; anything preserved in remembrance; as, relics of youthful days or friendships.

The pearls were spilt;
Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.

Tennyson.

Relicly Rel"ic·ly adverb In the manner of relics. [ Obsolete]

Relict Rel"ict noun [ Latin relicta , from of relictus , past participle of relinquere to leave behind. See Relinquish .] A woman whose husband is dead; a widow.

Eli dying without issue, Jacob was obliged by law to marry his relict , and so to raise up seed to his brother Eli.

South.

Relicted Re·lict"ed adjective [ Latin relictus , past participle ] (Law) Left uncovered, as land by recession of water. Bouvier.

Reliction Re·lic"tion noun [ Latin relictio a leaving behind.] (Law) A leaving dry; a recession of the sea or other water, leaving dry land; land left uncovered by such recession. Burrill.

Relief Re·lief" noun [ Middle English relef , French relief , properly, a lifting up, a standing out. See Relieve , and confer Basrelief , Rilievi .] 1. The act of relieving, or the state of being relieved; the removal, or partial removal, of any evil, or of anything oppressive or burdensome, by which some ease is obtained; succor; alleviation; comfort; ease; redress.

He sees the dire contagion spread so fast,
That, where it seizes, all relief is vain.

Dryden.

2. Release from a post, or from the performance of duty, by the intervention of others, by discharge, or by relay; as, a relief of a sentry.

For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold.

Shak.

3. That which removes or lessens evil, pain, discomfort, uneasiness, etc.; that which gives succor, aid, or comfort; also, the person who relieves from performance of duty by taking the place of another; a relay.

4. (Feudal Law) A fine or composition which the heir of a deceased tenant paid to the lord for the privilege of taking up the estate, which, on strict feudal principles, had lapsed or fallen to the lord on the death of the tenant.

5. (Sculp. & Arch.) The projection of a figure above the ground or plane on which it is formed.

» Relief is of three kinds, namely, high relief ( altorilievo ), low relief , ( basso-rilievo ), and demirelief ( mezzo-rilievo ). See these terms in the Vocabulary.

6. (Paint.) The appearance of projection given by shading, shadow, etc., to any figure.

7. (Fort.) The height to which works are raised above the bottom of the ditch. Wilhelm.

8. (Physical Geology) The elevations and surface undulations of a country. Guyot.

Relief valve , a valve arranged for relieving pressure of steam, gas, or liquid; an escape valve.

Syn. -- Alleviation; mitigation; aid; help; succor; assistance; remedy; redress; indemnification.

Reliefful Re·lief"ful adjective Giving relief. [ Obsolete]

Reliefless Re·lief"less adjective Destitute of relief; also, remediless.

Relier Re·li"er noun [ From Rely .] One who relies.

Relievable Re·liev"a·ble adjective Capable of being relieved; fitted to recieve relief. Sir M. Hale.

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